In 1997's Iranian presidential election, Hamshahri newspaper, then run by former mayor of Tehran, Gholamhossein Karbaschi, was accused by conservatives of supporting Mohammad Khatami. This was seen as illegal, as papers receiving government subsidy were forbidden to take sides in the elections. The issue eventually led to Karbaschi being put on trial on grounds of embezzlement and was sentenced to time in prison. During Khatami's second term, Tehran press court ruled that the newspaper can only be distributed inside Tehran.